He Says He's Military, But He's a Fraud

I’ve met this surgeon general serving in the Iraq hospitals in the Green Zone. He has been there for some time. When the president pulled all the troops out, they left the doctors there. This is puzzling to me.

We are two years into our relationship and have talked all this time through our computers' messenger service. My boyfriend put in his retirement and did get the retirement. For some reason, he says he still cannot leave Iraq until a replacement is found.

Now I am not hearing from him anymore. The last time was before the holidays. He said he wasn’t feeling well, but then he said he was doing OK.

I have become concerned. How can I possible get word through to the hospital over there? Who could get word to me about his condition?

Sincerely,
Surgeon General’s Girlfriend

Dear Girlfriend,

OK ... your friend told you he is a surgeon general in the military, right? Well, check this out: Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho is the surgeon general of the Army and her office is in Falls Church, Va. Vice Adm. Matthew L. Nathan is the incumbent surgeon general of the Navy and Lt. Gen. Thomas W. Travis is currently serving as the surgeon general of the Air Force. So, which one are you dating?

Trust me -- no one wears the title of surgeon general but one of the people I listed above. I hate to tell you, but I don’t think you know who the guy you have been messaging really is. Do you know his real name? His unit? His branch of service? His rank?

Here’s the deal: I wouldn’t pass go with this guy. The next thing he will do is ask you for money because he has to pay in order to leave Iraq.

If I had $5 for every story I’ve heard like yours, I could pay off my mortgage. Seriously. I doubt if this person is in the U.S. military. He’s a sham.

Everybody wants to be a combat veteran post 9/11. I guess it makes you look more patriotic and more masculine ... I don’t know. I hear from women on a weekly basis who have lost their personal savings from trying to help some guy in the Army, or a Marine or a sailor who’s stuck in combat and needs financial help to leave.

STOP PLEASE!! Women stop being so NAIVE! My advice is to leave him alone and if he contacts you again, I wouldn’t respond or give him any further information about you or your whereabouts. Throughout your letter, you indicate that his story “puzzles” you and that “for some reason” you doubt what he says. Listen to yourself and end this “relationship” now.

Sincerely,
Ms. Vicki

Related Topics

Contributor

About

Ms. Vicki is a native of Dallas, is married to an active-duty Soldier and has three sons. She has a Master's of Science in Social Work from the University of Louisville, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and currently works as a therapist with military servicemembers and their families. She provides services for a wide array of concerns such as combat stress, PTSD, couples and marital problems, depression, grief and loss, stress and coping.

Ms. Vicki also writes an advice column "Dear Ms. Vicki" that appears in the Washington Times, the Fort Campbell Courier and the Heidelberg Herald Post. Ms. Vicki also hosts an internet radio show and blogs on her community site with the Washington Times. If you want to ask Ms. Vicki for advice about your military life, please email her at AskMsVicki@military-inc.com.